Texas Cello Grand Prix
A prestigious award given quad-annually by the TexasCellos Foundation.
Recognition of Exceptional Creativity:
The award celebrates individuals who demonstrate extraordinary originality, insight, and potential for significant future advancements to the cello for the sake of humanity.
No Strings Attached Funding:
Recipients receive a substantial award, distributed in installments over four years. The grant comes with no specific reporting requirements, allowing recipients the freedom to pursue their work as they see fit.
Nomination-Based Process:
Nomination-Based Process: Individuals cannot apply for the Texas Cello Grand Prix; instead, they are nominated by anonymous nominators invited by the TexasCellos Foundation. These nominators are experts in their fields, chosen for their ability to identify exceptionally creative individuals.
Impact and Purpose:
The TexasCellos Foundation aims to highlight the importance of imaginative thinking and risk-taking, expand our understanding of creativity, and cultivate the next generation of artists. The award is intended as an investment in the individual's originality, insight, and potential, enabling them to pursue their creative instincts for the benefit of human society.
Selection Criteria:
Our focus is on exceptional creativity, as demonstrated through a track record of significant achievement, and manifest promise for important future advances. Emphasis is placed on nominees for whom our support would relieve limitations that inhibit them from pursuing their most innovative ideas. The Texas Cello Grand Prix is not a lifetime achievement award; we are looking for individuals on the precipice of great impact to music and cello playing.
Creativity:
Comprises the drive and ability to make something new or to connect the seemingly unconnected in significant ways so as to enrich our understanding of ourselves, our communities, the world, and the universe that we inhabit.
“Real understanding does not come from what we learn in books; it comes from what we learn from love of nature, of music, of man. For only what is learned in that way is truly understood.”
“I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance.”
― Pablo Casals